Nuclear Energy Agency Online BulletinCovers new material for March 2002The monthly bulletin only lists new and updated material. It is distributed by e-mail to registered users of the Nuclear Energy Agency's online services and is available online at www.oecd-nea.org/general/mnb/. The bulletin is sent monthly by e-mail to subscribers. If you are not already a subscriber, use the registration form to subscribe.
The April bulletin covers the following items:
New publications New publicationsNuclear Legislation: Analytical Study - Update 2001 Trends in the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Economic, Environmental and Social Aspects
Externalities and Energy Policy: The Life Cycle Analysis Approach Nuclear developmentThe NEA and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have published the proceedings of an international workshop "Externalities and Energy Policy: The Life Cycle Analysis Approach", jointly organised by the two agencies in Paris on 15-16 November 2001. Incorporating external costs ("externalities") into energy prices is important to sustainable energy policy. This represents a key challenge and an important step towards "getting the prices right". Life cycle analysis (and assessment) is a process that seeks to identify and assess the environmental, economic and social impacts associated with a product, process or activity, and it provides a conceptual framework for a detailed and comprehensive comparative evaluation of energy supply options. More information is available at www.oecd-nea.org/news/2002/2002-04.html Nuclear safetyThe Working Group on Risk Assessment (WGRisk) held a workshop on "Passive System Reliability - A Challenge to Reliability Engineering and Licensing" on 4-6 March 2002. The workshop was hosted by the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA) and took place in Cadarache, France. Participants at the workshop agreed that: 1. Passive systems and passive probabilistic safety assessments are becoming more important as reactor technology evolves. The key element in the development and use of passive systems is the decision as to whether new nuclear power plant designs will be licensed or built. Regular features
Radiation protectionThe Committee on Radiation Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) approved a new two-year programme of work at its annual meeting on 11-12 March 2002. The new programme will focus on the overall radiation protection framework and examine the emerging issue of radiological protection of the environment. The CRPPH will also address the possible implications of further reducing radioactive effluent releases and how to better integrate societal aspects into radiation protection decision making. The CRPPH's operational undertakings will again include the Information System on Occupational Exposure (ISOE) and International Nuclear Emergency Exercises (INEX). INEX 3, currently under development, will address assessment and decision-making mechanisms following a serious contamination. More information is available at www.oecd-nea.org/rp/. Nuclear scienceThe Working Party on Nuclear Criticality Safety's Expert Group on Burn-up Credit has just published the results of the phase III-B benchmark on burn-up calculations of boiling water reactor fuel assemblies for storage and transport. This report, prepared by H. Okuno, Y. Naito and K. Suyama, presents an analysis of the 16 results submitted by the benchmark exercise participants. Paper copies of the report can be obtained upon request from Ali Nouri (nouri@nea.fr). The report, and others in the burn-up credit criticality benchmark series are available at: www.oecd-nea.org/science/wpncs/Publications/. Legal affairsThe first update of the 1999 Edition of the Analytical Study on Nuclear Legislation in OECD Member countries has just been published. As with the 1999 edition, data is organised in a standardised format for all countries, thus facilitating information search and comparison. The 2001 update provides new chapters for Australia, Canada, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Norway and Spain. There is also a chapter for the Slovak Republic, Member of the OECD since December 2000, and not previously covered by this publication. An information note on Poland is included, pending the adoption of legislation to implement the new Polish Atomic Act. Data BankComputer program services A page listing all new programs in the last 12 months can be found at www.oecd-nea.org/tools/abstract/new.
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